Hippodrome Casino Welcomes 20 Millionth Guest in Post-Covid Comeback

_{The Hippodrome Casino in Leicester Square reopened after Covid restrictions with a symbolic chain-cutting ceremony. (Image: Hippodrome Casino)}

The Hippodrome Casino will welcome its 20 millionth customer this week, a milestone that underlines the venue’s rapid rise since opening its doors in 2012.

The Leicester Square landmark, opened by then-London Mayor Boris Johnson on 13 July 2012, has positioned itself as more than a gaming floor. From first dates and anniversary dinners to late-night poker sessions and West End afterparties, the venue has aimed to redefine what a casino can be in the UK capital.

The anniversary comes just over a decade after the Grade II-listed building reopened as a casino, theatre, and entertainment complex following a major restoration.

From Historic Theatre to 20 Million Guests

The Hippodrome casino is located in the heart of London. (Image: Alan Evans/Casinos.com)

When Johnson formally opened the venue in 2012, he described the project as a restoration of a historic building to the heart of London’s entertainment life. Originally opened in 1900 as a circus and variety theatre, the Hippodrome has long been part of the West End’s cultural fabric.

Since relaunching as a casino and entertainment venue, the business has drawn 20 million visitors through its doors. That figure reflects not only gaming traffic, but guests attending shows such as Magic Mike Live, dining in its restaurants, or watching major sporting events.

The scale matters. London’s night-time economy contributes billions of pounds annually to the capital, according to City Hall and industry bodies. Venues that combine gaming, live entertainment, and hospitality have become increasingly central to that ecosystem.

Cutting the Chains After Covid

The milestone also serves as a reminder of how far the sector has come since pandemic shutdowns forced casinos across the UK to close for extended periods in 2020 and 2021.

When the Hippodrome Casino reopened after Covid restrictions eased, management marked the moment with a symbolic chain-cutting ceremony at the front doors.

In a statement reflecting on that moment, the casino’s leadership said: “In that moment, cutting the chains was about reopening the doors.”

They added: “It’s also the clearest expression of what we’ve been doing since day one, cutting away old assumptions about what a casino could be, loosening outdated constraints and taking the freedom to build, invent and reposition the business. And the sector itself.”

UK casinos were permitted to reopen on 17 May 2021 as part of the government’s phased roadmap out of lockdown in England, following months of closure that placed significant strain on operators and staff.

Redefining the British Casino Model

The Hippodrome has consistently framed itself as “entertainment first,” with gaming integrated into a broader leisure offer. That includes multiple bars, restaurants, a dedicated poker room, and live performances.

Management argues that approach has attracted attention from international operators seeking a model that blends gaming with mainstream appeal.

“We adapt. We invest. We know what people want and build for it,” the statement said. “And we never assume yesterday’s success will carry us through tomorrow.”

The venue’s 20 millionth customer is not positioned as a finish line. “20 million. It’s not a finish line. Just a moment worth enjoying before getting on with what comes next.”

Milestone is More Than a Number

For London’s casino sector, the milestone is more than a headline number. It signals sustained footfall in a highly competitive West End market, at a time when operators face rising costs, regulatory scrutiny, and shifting consumer habits.

It also underscores how hybrid entertainment venues have evolved since the UK’s Gambling Act 2005 reshaped the regulatory landscape, allowing large and small casino licences across the country.

As the Hippodrome approaches its 14th year in operation, the 20 million mark stands as evidence that a diversified model,  gaming, dining, and live entertainment under one roof, can draw crowds even after one of the most disruptive periods in the hospitality industry’s history.